Operating means



May 10, 1927.

A. H.- STEBBINS OPERATING MEANS Filed April 15, s Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY May 10, 19270 ,62 677 A. H. STEBBINS OPERATING MEANS Filed April 1 l926 3 sheets-sheet //v VE/V TOR: %4

ATTORNEY A. H. STEBBINS OPERATING MEANS May 10, 1927.

Filed April 15, 1,926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY NN mm x lllll M N QM U AN *W AMNN Patented May 10, 1927.

UNITED STATES ALBERT H. STEBBINS, 013 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

OPERATING MEANS.

Application filed April 13, 1926. Serial No. 101,723.

This invention relates to means for positively moving a concentrator deck, screen or other device supported for vibratory movement back and forth with a progressive vibratory movement.

Various efforts have been made heretofore to devise a simple durable construction for imparting a progressive vibratory movement to concentrator decks, screens and other devices, but difficulty has been experiencedin devising means that will produce the desired movement, due largely to the exacting nature of the. movement required to effect many separating operations. For example, in operating a table concentrator the movement should be sufficiently energetic to advance the materials over the deck surface and cause the concentrates to work down under the tailings or lighter particles, while at the same time it should not be energetic enough to disturb the stratification of the materials.

One important feature of the present invention, therefore, relates to a simple durable form of operating means for moving a frame, deck or other device to be vibrated back and forth with a positive movement that gradually increases in speed. in one direction and gradually decreases in speed in the opposite direction.

A more specific feature of the invention resides in the construction whereby a rock-- ing arm that extends from its axis of rotation in one direction serves to move the frame to be vibrated in one direction, and a second rocking arm that extends from its axis of rotation in the opposite direction serves to move the frame in the opposite direction, the arms being so arranged that as they move back and forth through a small angle they impart a positive accelerated movement to the frame in one direction and a negative accelerated movement to the frame in the opposite direction.

Another feature of the invention resides in the construction whereby the frame is pulled back and forth by actuating cables each of which is anchored at one end and has an'intermediate portion looped about a sheave that is moved to and from the cable tensioning position. As a result of this construction the movement imparted to the frame is double the movement imparted bodily to the actuating sheave. This is desirable because it makes it necessary to move the sheave through only a small angle to impart the desired movement to the frame.

Still another feature of the inventionresides in the construction whereby the rocking arms are connected so that movement is imparted directly from one to the other, and

in this manner a synchronized movement of the two arms is assured.

Other features of the invention and novel combination of parts in addition to the above will be hereinafter described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate good practical forms of the invention.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine having a frame supported for movement in the direction of its length, and provided with operating means constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the operating mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 on an enlarged scale is a side elevation of the operating mechanism for pulling the frame in a lefthand direction;

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the mecha nism for pulling the frame in the righthand direction;

Fig. 5 is a side view of the operating crank shaft shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the rocking crank shafts and rod which connects them;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but shows a cable for imparting the rocking movement from one crank shaft to the other 111 place of the connecting rod of Fig. 1; and,

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but shows the connecting cable of Fig. 7 in place of the connecting rod of Fig. 6.

In the drawings, a frame 10 is shown as supported for movement back andforth in the direction of its length. This frame may constitute a supporting structure for a concentrator deck, screen, or other device which is to be vibrated.

The means for supporting the frame 10 for vibratory movement may be variously constructed, and as shown constitutes a base or supporting structure formed of the iongitudinaliy extending rai's 11 which are secured to the uprights 12 and at the upper ends of the uprights 12 are provided the bearing blocks 13, each of which has a recess in its upper face adapted to receive a bail or roller 14-, and the upper portion of these balls or rollers extend into a similar recess formed in the bearing blocks that are secured to the under face of the frame 10.

The operating mechanism forming the subject matter of the present invention may be employed for developing a progressive v1- bratory movement for various purposes, but it is particularly well adapted for operating a concentrator deck since it serves to move the frame 10 in one direction with a graduallyincreasing speed, and in the opposite direction with a gradually decreasing speed, with asmoothness which is not-likely to disturb the stratification ofthe materials being treated.-

In the construction shown a cable 16 serves to pull the frame 10 ina left-hand direction, andone end of this cable is secured to a threaded pipe or rod17 which extends through a. hole formed in the bracket 18 which is rigidly secured to the under face of the frame 10. The connection between the cable 16 and frame 10 may be varied as desired. by adjusting the nuts 19 upon the rod 17 The cable 16 extends downwardly about-a grooved sheave 20 which is rotatably supported by ashaft- 21 the ends of which are mounted in the brackets 22 which maybe secured to the longitudinally extending rails 11 of the supporting structure.

The means'shown for tensioning and slacking off the cable 16 consists of a rockingarm 23 whichextends downwardly from the axis about which it rocks. Various constructions may be provided whereby the rocking arm 23 will serve to tension andslack off the cable 16, and in the presentcase the rocking arm comprises a crank shaft 24 which is rotatablysupported by the brackets 25, and this shaft is provided with the off-set portions or arms 26 that are connected by the wrist pin .27 as best shown in Fig. 5. The downwardly extending portion of the cable 16 may be connected directly to the wrist pm as shown in my Sr. No. 101,722, filed April 13, 1926; or it may extendaround' a grooved sheave 28, as shown in the drawings, which sheave is rotatably mounted upon the wrist pin 27, and the end portion of the cable 16 is led upwardly from the sheave 28 to anchoring means 29 which is preferably secured to the rocking shaft 30. The arrangement in the present case is such that the arm 23 rocks back and forth through alimited angle'of say20 from the vertical position in'which it is shown in'Figs. 1 and 2. This serves alternately to slack off and tension the cable 16, as will be apparent.

The means shown for rocking the arm 23 from its full-line position of Fig. 3 to'its dotted line position consists of a cable 31 one end of which is anchored to a beam 32 of the suyg portingv structure by a bolt 33 having the nuts 34 that may be adjustedto co-pending application,

vary the effective length of the cable 31. An intermediate portion of this cable passes around a grooved sheave 35 mounted upon an eccentric 36 which is rigidly secured to the powershaft37. This shaft may be journaled in the bearing brackets 38 secured to the supporting structure, and the shaft may be rotated by the pulley 39. The opposite end of the cable 31 is attached to the wrist pin 27by bending the end of the cable about a grooved spool 4.0 mounted upon the wrist pin, as shown in Fig. 5. The arrangement is such that-as the power shaft 37is rotated the eccentric 36 turns within the grooved sheave 35 and moves this sheave bodily toward and fromth'e crank shaft 24,- thereby alternately tensioning and-slackingotf the cable 31.

The operating means so far described serves to pull the frame 10 in a left-hand direction, as the rocking arm 23 is shifted from the full-line position of Fig. 3 to the dotted line position; The means shown for positively pulling the frame 10 in a righthand direction is substantially the same as that disclosed for moving the frame in a left-hand direction, except that the arm 23 extends downwardly from the axis-or shaft 24 about which it rocks, whereas the. rocking arm 41, now to be described, extends upwardly from the axis or crank shaft about which it rocks. This rocking arm preferably constitutes a crank shaft 4-2 the ends of which are rotatably supported by the brackets l3, and an intermediate portion of this shaft is off-set, as shown, and is provided with the wrist pin 44. Journaled upon the wrist pin a lis the grooved sheave 45 about which is looped the operating cable 16. This cable has one end anchored to the portion 47 that extendslownwardly from the shaft 48, and an intermediate portion of the cable 46 extends upwardly from the sheave 45 about the grooved sheave 1-9 which is rotatably supported-by the shaft 50. of-thi-s; cable is secured to a threaded shaft or tube 51 which extends through an openingin the-bracket 52 which is rigidly secured to the underface of the frame 10, and the rod 511's provided with nuts 53 which may be adjusted to vary the connection between he cable ltl and bracket 52. The innerends of the threaded shafts 17 and 51 are preferably"connected by turn buckle 54 to impart-the pull of one cable directly to tl e other;

The means shown for pullingjt-he arm n from its dotted line position its full line position comprises a cable 55 one end of whic'his'adjustably secured to the supporting structure by the threaded. bolt 56', and the other end of'this cable is looped about a grooved spool 57 mounted upon the wrist pin 44:. An" intermediate portion of the cable 55 passes around the sheave 35 The upper end i of Fig." l to,

loo

eaner"? above mentioned and lies ina second groove formed in thls sheave, as Wlll be apparent from Fig. 6.

The operating mechanism so far described will serve to positively pull the arm 23 from its full line positionof Fig. 3, in which the cable 16 is slacked off, to the dotted line position of this figure, in which the cable is tensioned. Similarly the operating means (lescribed will serve to pull the rocking arm 41 from the dotted line position of Fig. 4, in which .the cable 46 is slacked off, to the full line position of this figure, in which the cable is tensioned, and it will be noted that as the eccentric 36 rotates it will slack off one of the cables. passing around the sheave 35 as it tensions the other cable passing around this sheave.

The operating means so far described will operate satisfactorily if springs or the like are provided for pulling the arms 23 and 41 in a direction opposite to the direction in which they are pulled by their respective cables 31 and 55, and such springs are shown in the co-pending application above mentioned. In many cases however it is desirable to provide a direct connection from one rocking arm 23 to the other rocking arm 41 to thereby insure rocking movement of these two arms in timed relation to each other so that their movement is properly synchronized. In accordance with the present invention a rod 58 is provided, one end of which is connected to the arm 23 and the other end is connected to the arm 41, and these arms are preferably so positioned that the wrist pin of the downwardly extending arm 23 lies substantially in the horizontal plane of the wrist pin of the upwardly extending arm 41. As a result of this arrangement of the arms the rod 58 connecting the arms will lie in substantially a horizontal plane, as will be apparent from Figs. 1 and 2. As above stated the arms 23 and, 41 are preferably rocked through a relatively small angle towards and from the vertical position .in which these arms are shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and as a result the wrist pin 27 will rise as the arm 23 is rocked to the full-line position of Fig. 3,- whereas the wrist pin 44 will move downwardly as it is moved to the full-line position of Fig. 4. It is apparent that if the ends of the connecting rod 58 were connected to the wrist pins just mentioned this ro-d would be tilted appreciably from its horizontal position as the arms rock from their vertical position. It is desirable to avoid as far as practicable-this tilting of the connecting rod 58, and to this end, in accordance with the present invention, the lefthand end of the rod 58 is secured to the rocking arm 23 by a bolt 59 the axis of which lies to the right-hand side of the wrist pin 27, and similarly the right-hand end of the rod 58 is connected to the crank arm 41 by a bolt 60 the axis of which lies to the righthand side of the axis of the wristvpin 44.

As a result of the operating means described, one of the cables connected to the frame 10 will be slacked off as the other 1' cable connected to this frame isvtensioned, and it is important to note that the speed at which the frame 10 is pulled in the lefthand direction by the cable 16 willgradually decrease as the actuating arm 23 approaches its vertical position, whereas the speed at which the frame 10 is pulled in the right-hand direction by the cable 46 will gradually increase as the actuating arm 41 approaches its inclined position shown in arms 23 and 41 will serve to impart the desired movement to the frame 10. The lever operating cables 31 and 55 are likewise anchored at one end and have an intermediate portion looped about the eccentric actuated sheave 35, and the movement which these cables impart to the rocking arms is equal to twice the throw of the eccentric. It will therefore be seen that the amount of movement imparted to the frame 10 will be approximately four times the throw of the eccentric, 36, since the movement is doubled once by the cable 31 or and is doubled a second time by the cable 16 or 46. It is therefore apparent that an eccentric of very small throw will serve to impart a substantial movement to the frame 10.

It is important that as the cables 16 and 46 are actuated one cable-be taken up at the same rate that the other cable is slacked off, to thereby maintain a constant tension upon both cables irrespective of the position occupied by the rocking arms 23' and 41. This may be accomplished if care is taken in determining the proper position of the crank shafts 24, 42, the relative size of the sheaves 28 and 45 with respect to the upper sheaves '20 and 49, and also if care is taken to properly locate the anchoring means 29 and 47 for the operating cables. When the rocking arms just mentioned are moved through a relatively small angle it is found that the cables 16 and .46 will be taken up and let oif at the proper rate of speed if the operating parts are located substantially as shown in Figs, 3 and 4. In these figures 1t will be noted that the crank shaft 24 is located at the right han'd side of the vertical line a-a which passes through the axis of the upper shaft 21, and that the crank shaft 42 is located at the left-hand side of the line bZ) passing vertically through the axis of the shaft of the upper sheave. It will also be noted that the sheaves 28 and 45 are considerably larger in diameter than the upper sheaves 20 and a9, and that the portion of each cable 16 and i6 that extends clownwardly from one sheave to the other occupies a vertical position'in Fig. 1; whereas the portion of each cable which extends upwardly to the anchoring means occupies an inclined position in Fig. 1.

The modification shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is substantially the same in construction and operation as that shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, except that the connecting rod 58 between the rocking arms has been replaced by the actuating cable 61. This cable e2 tends about the sheaves 62 and 63 which are mounted upon and rigidly secured to the crank shafts 24 and 4-2 respectively, and the cable is preferably wrapped several times around each of the sheaves just mentioned to prevent slippage of the cable about the sheaves. In order to prevent any possibility of the cable slipping about the sheaves the cable may be secured to each sheave by the clamps 6%. The tension of the cable 61 may be varied as desired by turning the hand buckle 65 which connects the ends of the cable, and it should be noted that the portions of the cable extending from one sheave to the other are crossed as shown in Fig. 7, this being desirable to move the upper run of the cable out of the way of the power shaft 37, and also to cause the sheaves G2 and 63 to be rotated in the proper direction, as the rocking movement is transmitted from one arm to the other by the cable 61.

Should it'be desired to vary the nature of the movement imparted to the frame 10, this may be accomplished by adjusting the nuts upon the cable anchoring bolts 33 and 56 to thereby vary the position of-the are through which the arms 23 and 41 rock. A slight variation in the length of the operating cables 31 and 35 will serve to shift'the are through which the arms 23 and ll rock either towards or from the'vertical plane, and any change in the position of these arcs will materially change the nature-of: the movement imparted to the frame 10.

From the foregoingdescription, when read: inconnection with the drawings, it will be seen that the operating means described serves to positively move the frame 10 back and forth with a progressive movement that increases in speed as'the frame'l'O approaches the right-hand end of the stroke and decreases in speed as i this frame approaches the left hand end of its'stroke, and it will beseenthat since the movement'of one rocking arm is directly imparted 'to the other, by the connecting'rod -58, or the cable 61, proper movement'of these two arms in timed relation is assured, with the result that a strong, durableandreliable type of movementis provided.

What is claimed is 1. In combination with a'frame supported for back and forth movement, operating means for the frame, comprising a pair of rocking arms supported to extend in opposite directions from the pivotpoints about which theyrock, a connection between the frame and one arm to move the frame in one direction, a connection between the frame and other arm to move the frame in the opposite direction, aconnection'for transmitting the movement of one arm in either directionto the other, and means for rock-- ing said arms.

2; In combination with a frame supported for back and forth movement, operating means for the frame, comprising a pair of rocking arms, a cable extendingfrom one armto the frame to pull'the frame in one direction, a cable extending from-the other armtothe frame to pul'l'the frame in the opposite direction, means for rocking one of said arms, and a connection for imparting the rockingimovement of one arm-di rectly to the other.

3. In combination with a frame supported for back and forth movement, operating means for the frame comprising a pair of rocking arms,- a direct connection between said arms for moving one arm toits maximum cable let-off position as the other-arm moves to its maximum take-up position, a cable connection between the frame and one arm to move the frame in one direction, a cable connection between the frame and other arm to move the frame in the opposite direction, and'means for rocking'said arms.

4. In combination with a frame supported for back and forth movement, operating means for the frame comprising a pair of rocking arms, a cable connection between the frame and one arm to pull the frame in one direction, a cable connection between the frame'and other arm to .pu'llith'e frame in the opposite direction, a direct eonnec tion between said arms for moving the arms simultaneously toa position in which. their:

path of movement. liBSIat right angles to the cables-to which they are connecteel' as the frame completes its i stroke J in one idiree. tion and formovingthesarms simultaneously away fronrsaid position toimove the frame' in the opposite direction, and means for rocking said arms.

5. In combinationiwitha frameisupportecl. for bac'k-"and' forth movement," operating one direction, a connection between the frame and other arm to pull thesframe in the opposite direction, power actuated means for pulling an arm in one direction, power actuated means for pulling the other arm in the opposite direction, and a connection between the arms for imparting the rocking movement of one arm in either direction to the other.

6. In combination with a frame supported for back and ,forth movement, operating means for the frame comprising a pair of rocking frame and one arm for pulling the frame in one direction with a decreasing speed, a connection between the frame and other arm for pulling the frame in the opposite direction with an increasing speed, a connection between said arms for imparting the rocking movement of one directly to the other and means for rocking said arms to impart a progressive movement to the frame.

7. In combination with a frame supported for back and forth movement, operating means for the frame comprising a pair of rocking arms, a cable connection between the frame and one arm for pulling the frame in one direction, a cable connection between the frame and other arm for pulling the frame in the opposite direction, means oper-. able independently of said cable connections for imparting the rocking movement of one arm to the other, and means for rocking said arms to actuate the frame.

8. In combination with a frame supported for back and forth movement, operating means for the frame comprising a pair of rocking arms, a cable connection between the frame and one arm for moving the frame in one direction, a cable connection between the frame and other arm for moving the frame in the opposite direction, a bar forming a direct connection between the arms for imparting movement from one arm to the other, and means for rocking said arms.

9. In combination with a frame supported for back and forth movement, opera-ting means for the frame comprising a pair of rocking arms, a connection between the frame and one arm for moving the frame in one direction, a connection between the frame and other arm for moving the frame in the opposite direction, a power shaft provided with an eccentric, cables extending from the eccentric to the respective arms to actuate the arms, and means for imparting the rocking movement of one arm to the other.

10. In combination with a frame supported for back and forth movement, operating means for the frame comprising a pair of rocking arms, a cable extending from the arms, a connection between the frame to one arm to pull the frame in one direction, a second cable extending from the frame to the other arm to pull the frame in the opposite direction, means for rocking one arm through a small angle relative to its position of maximum cable take-up movement and the other arm through a small angle relative to its position of maximum cable let-off movement, and a connection between the arms for imparting the rocking movement from one to the other.

11. In combination-with a frame supported for back and forth movement, operating means for the frame, comprising a pair of rocking arms, a sheave mounted upon each arm, a cable looped about one sheave and having one end anchored and its other end secured to the frame to pull the frame in pne direction, a second'cable looped about the other sheave and having one end anchored and its other end secured to the frame to pull the frame in the opposite direction, and means for rocking said arms to actuate the frame.

12. In combination with a frame supported for back and forth movement, operating means for the frame comprising a pair of rocking arms, a sheave mounted upon each arm, a cable looped about one sheave and having one end anchored and its other end secured to the frame to pull the frame in one direction, a second cable looped about the other sheave and having one end anchored and its other end secured to the frame to pull the frame in the opposite direction, means for rocking the arms to actuate the frame, and the cables being arranged so that they impart to the frame a movement that is approximately double the movement imparted to either sheave in the cable tightening direction.

13. In combination with a frame supported for back and forth movement, opera-ting means for the frame comprising a pair of rocking arms supported to extend in opposite directions from the pivot points about which they rock, a connection between the frame and one arm to move the frame in one direction, a connection between the frame and other arm to move the frame in the opposite direction, a rod extending from one arm to the other to impart the rocking movement of one arm to the other, means for connecting the rod to each arm at a point to one side of the central plane of the arm, and means for rocking the arms.

14:. In combination with a frame supported for back and forth movement, operating means for the frame, comprising a pair of rocking arms, a sheave mounted upon each arm, a cable looped about one sheave and having one end anchored and its other end secured to the frame to pull the frame in one direction, a second cable looped about the other sheave and having one end anlit) chored and its other end secured to the frame to pull. the frame in the opposite direction, a power driven eccentric, cables looped about the eccentric and anchored at one end to aet tuate said arms, and the cables being arranged so that the movement imparted to the frame by the cables is equal to approximately four times the throw of the eccentric.

15. In combination with a frame supported for back and forth movement, operating means for the frame, comprising a rocking arm supported to extend from its axis of r0- tation in the direction of cable let-off move ment, a cable extending from the arm to the frame, a second rocking arm supported to extend from its axis of rotation in the direction of the cable take-up movement, a cable extending from said second arm :to the frame, means for rocking said arms to move the frame back and forth with a progressive movement, and a connection between said arms for imparting the rocking movement of one arm directly to the other. e

16. In combination with a frame supported for back and forth movement, cables con-V nected to the frame to pull it back and forth, a pair oftrocking arms connected to therespect-ive cables to actuate the frame and arranged so that they extend in opposite directions from their axis of rotation but he in parallel relation to each other when the frame is at one end of its stroke and at. an angle to this position when the frameis at the other end of its stroke, and a connection between said arms for imparting the move ment of one directly to the other;

In'testimony whereof, I have signed, my name to this. specification.

ALBERT H. SFEBBINS. 

